Limbo Rock
Encyclopedia
"Limbo Rock" is a popular song about limbo dancing
written by Kal Mann
(under the pseudonym Jon Sheldon) and Billy Strange
. An instrumental version was first recorded by The Champs
in 1961. The first vocal version was recorded in 1962 by Chubby Checker
(on Parkway Records): it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100
and at number one on the Cash Box charts. Chubby Checker then released a sequel, Let's Limbo Some More, in 1963 and that peaked at #20 in the Billboard chart.
The song was covered by a long list of artists including Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, The Champs
, The Ventures
, Fozzie Bear
, Sebastian the crab, Chet Atkins
and Hank Snow
(on their joint album C.B. Atkins & C.E. Snow by Special Request
), The Knickerbockers
, Klaus Wunderlich
, The Routers
, Arthur Lyman
, Skiantos
. Because the song is literally about limbo
, versions of the song by lesser-known cover band
s appear on various latin music, Calypso music
and reggae
compilation records. It also appears on a number of children's music
albums.
The Chubby Checker recording was featured in the film Hairspray.
Limbo (dance)
Limbo is a popular form of dance that originated on the island of Trinidad. The dancer moves to a Caribbean rhythm, then leans backward and dances under a horizontal pole without touching it. Upon touching it or falling backwards, the dancer is "out"...
written by Kal Mann
Kal Mann
Kal Mann was an American lyricist. He is best known for penning the words to Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear", plus "Butterfly", a hit for both Charlie Gracie and Andy Williams.-Biography:...
(under the pseudonym Jon Sheldon) and Billy Strange
Billy Strange
William E. "Billy" Strange is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor.-Recordings and songwriting:...
. An instrumental version was first recorded by The Champs
The Champs
The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". Formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-Side for the Dave Burgess single, the intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-Side, "Train to...
in 1961. The first vocal version was recorded in 1962 by Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
(on Parkway Records): it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and at number one on the Cash Box charts. Chubby Checker then released a sequel, Let's Limbo Some More, in 1963 and that peaked at #20 in the Billboard chart.
The song was covered by a long list of artists including Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, The Champs
The Champs
The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". Formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-Side for the Dave Burgess single, the intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-Side, "Train to...
, The Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
, Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear is a Muppet, created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who works as a stand-up comic and has a catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is usually the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and Waldorf...
, Sebastian the crab, Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
and Hank Snow
Hank Snow
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
(on their joint album C.B. Atkins & C.E. Snow by Special Request
C.B. Atkins & C.E. Snow by Special Request
C. B. Atkins & C. E. Snow by Special Request, , is the title of a recording by Chet Atkins and Hank Snow, released in 1969....
), The Knickerbockers
The Knickerbockers
The Knickerbockers were an American pop/rock music group, best remembered for their 1965 Beatles sound alike hit single, "Lies."-Formation:The band was formed in 1962 in Bergenfield, New Jersey by brothers Beau Charles and John Charles with fluctuating personnel until 1964, when they met...
, Klaus Wunderlich
Klaus Wunderlich
Klaus Wunderlich was a German musician.Wunderlich was born in Chemnitz and died in Engen from a heart attack....
, The Routers
The Routers
-Career:Formed in 1962 by Mike Gordon, the Routers recordings sometimes used session musicians in addition to the actual group with the exception of Gordon who played on most the sessions. The Routers first release in September 1962 was the guitar-driven instrumental "Let's Go ", which reached #19...
, Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman
Arthur Lyman was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His group popularized a style of faux-Polynesian music during the 1950s and 1960s which later became known as exotica...
, Skiantos
Skiantos
Skiantos is a comedy punk band from Bologna, Italy, formed in 1975. They have released ten studio albums, two live albums and five compilation albums...
. Because the song is literally about limbo
Limbo (dance)
Limbo is a popular form of dance that originated on the island of Trinidad. The dancer moves to a Caribbean rhythm, then leans backward and dances under a horizontal pole without touching it. Upon touching it or falling backwards, the dancer is "out"...
, versions of the song by lesser-known cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
s appear on various latin music, Calypso music
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
compilation records. It also appears on a number of children's music
Children's music
Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...
albums.
The Chubby Checker recording was featured in the film Hairspray.